Flexible stay-bolt.



B. E. D. STAFFORD.

FLEXIBLE STAY BOLT.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 1, 1914.

1, 1 19,654. Patented Dec. 1, 1914.

WITNE2QDLIIW I Z/NVENTOR m UNITED ES PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN E. 1). STAFFORD, or rir'rsiauneri, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR o;

FLAN RY BOLT COMPANY, or EIT'ISBURGI-I, PENNSYLVANIA.

FLEXIBLE S T'AY-BOLT To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, BENJAMIN E. D. STAF- FORD, of Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flexible Stay-Bolts; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement inflexible stay bolts.

The inspection of stay bolts within fixed periods is mandatory, and to inspect and test them the heads of the bolts must be exposed for tapping and turning. 1

. With stay bolts now in use the head of the boltis mounted in a sleeve and is covered by a cap screwed to the sleeve. The pressure of the head of the bolt against the inside of the sleeve tends to bulge or expand the latter thus causing the 'cap to stick. Again the formation of rust on the threads connecting the cap and sleeve retardsthe removal of the cap, hence it is usually necessary to loosen the cap by tapping it with a hammer WhlCll frequently results in fracture or other injury 1 to the cap or sleeve.

Again when the cap is stuck fast, the efforts to unscrew it, result at times in loosening up the connection between the sleeve and the outer sheet of the boiler.

The object of the present invention is to provide for the quick and ready inspection of the stay bolt proper without danger of injury to the parts in which the head of the bolt is mounted, and it consists in the parts and combinations of parts as will be more fully explained and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view in side elevation partly, in section of my improvement, Fig. 2 is a view in plan of the same. Fig. 3 is a view in elevation of the outer end of the sleeve, and Fig. 4 is a View of the ring.

1 represents the bolt preferably provided with a substantially spherical head 2, having a slot 3 for the engagement of a suitable driver.

Secured to the outer sheet 4 of the boiler, is the sleeve 5 threaded externally, the bore at the inner end thereof being of greater diameter than the body of the bolt, and made flaring so as to permit of a free lateral or rocking movement of the bolt within rea- Specification of Letters Patent.

tent d Dec. 1 1914.

Application filed April 1, 1914. Serial No. 828,867.

sonable limits. This sleeve is designedto 1 receive and house the head-20f the bolt, and

is provided. internally with a seat 6 formed in the arcof a circle concentric with the head of the bolt, against which said head rests and which permits of a universal movement of the head on its seat during" the movements caused by the expansion and contraction 'of the sheets to which the bolt is connected--. [T he bore .or cavity in the sleeve 5, above or to the outerside of the seat6 is the head of the bolt, and the sleeve is preferablyprovided externally adjacent its outer endwith the hexagonal or otherwiseanguof a size sufiicient for the free entrance of I lar portion 7 for the wrench used in attach -g;

drop forged steel or malleable iron or brass, .and is provided with a gasket or ring 10 of softer metal set into its rear face in a position to rest on the'annular shoulder 8 and forms a steam tight joint when the capis locked to 1ts seat.

I A portion of the top flange 11 of the sleeve 5, is cut away as shown clearly, in Fig. 2 to permit of the'insertion and removal of the ring 12, and the flange, 11 is grooved as shown to recelve this ring so that when the latter is in place it Will be held against outward displacement by the overlapping flange of the sleeve. 'The'ring proper 1'2 rests. out of contact :with the cap 9 so that when the latter is in place the ring can be j freely slid in and out over the cap, and'the saidring carries a plug 13 screw threaded externally for engagement -with female threads on the ring, and provided inits outer face with an angular recess or holes forthe engagement of a tool by which the plug "may be turned. When the cap and ring are properly assembled as shown in Fig. 1, the cap 9 may be locked against its shoulder and the ring 12 locked in its flange 11 by screwing in the plug 13. This contact between the plug, 13 and the cap forces the latter down onto its seat 8, and forces the ring 12. outwardly into frictional contact with the outer wall of the groove in flange bolt, the plug '13 is disengaged from the cap by unscrewing it slightly, after which the ring 12 is free to be withdrawn through the opening in the flange 11, thus leaving the ring 12 so as to permit the end walls 15 of parts might be made without avoiding my the cut-away portion to move into position against the straight sides of the pins. This construction prevents the ring from turning. One pin'however, round or any other shape would answer the purpose. The ring may be retained within the groove in the flange against accidental displacement while assembling the parts, by any suitable means, but I prefer a removable pin 16 which passes through a notch in the periphery of the ring 12 and into a hole in the outer end of the sleeve.

Instead of making the top flangell of the sleeve integral with the latter, it may be made of separate piece and screwed to the sleeve as indicated by the dotted lines Fig. l.

I do not claim broadlv in this application, a sleeve having a flange at its outer end, a removable ring adapted to engage said flange, a cap seated withinthe sleeve at the rear of the ring and a plug carried by the ring and movable toward and away from the cap for locking the latter in place, as such construction is broadly claimed in my pending application No. 828,866 filed even date herewith.

It is evident that changes in the construction and relative arrangement of the several invention and hence I would have it under stood that I do not restrict myself to the particular construction and arrangement of parts shown and described, except as required by the scope ofthe claims.

combination of a sleeve having a flange extending part way around its outer end, a groove in said flange, a ring adapted to be moved into and out of said groove, a removable cap within the sleeve at the rear of the ring, and a plug carried by the ring and movable toward and away from the cap for locking the latter in place.

2. In flexib'l'ewstay bolt construction, the combination of a sleeve having a flange extending part way around its Outer end the flange being provided with a groove, a ring adapted to be moved into and out of said groove, a screw plug carried by said ring,

and a cap within the sleeve at the rear of the screw plug and adapted to be engaged by the latter.

3. In flexible stay bolt construction, the combination of a sleeve having a flange extending part way around its outer end, the flang being grooved on its inner face, a

removable ring within said groove, means for preventing the ring from turning in 'the groove, a cap within the sleeve, and a plug carried by the ring and movable toward andaway from the cap for locking the latter in place.

4. In flexible stay bolt construction, the

combination of a sleeve having an internal annular seat, a metal cap provided with a softer metal gasket set into the cap and which makes contact with the annular seat in the sleeve, a movable ring attached to the end of the sleeve, and a plug carried by said ring and movable toward and away from the cap. 5. In flexible stay bolt construction, the combination of a sleeve having an open groove adjacent its upper end, a ring removably seated in said groove, and a screw plug carried by said ring and forming a closure for the outerv end of the sleeve;

In testimony whereof, I have signedthis I BENJAMIN E. D. STAFFORD. Witnesses:

EDWIN S. RYcE,

Howann O. GAPPEL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents: each, by addressing the Commissioner oflatents,

Washington, D. G.

specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. 

